Political Winds
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) How will the new leadership impact ethanol policies?
Some strong ethanol advocates lost in the November election, including Earl Pomeroy and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, acknowledges Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association. Many more won, however, including Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Mark Kirk and Rep. John Shimkus. “And, more importantly, for the most part, those defeated were replaced with equally strong advocates for value-added agriculture and ethanol,” Dinneen says.
The key, says Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, is educating new legislators about ethanol. “We have to go educate people about the issue and the facts,” he says. “We think if the facts get out there, we win.”
…What is clear, Dinneen says, is that there will be a focus on reducing taxes and reigning in spending. There needs to be a debate about how to foster continued growth for the ethanol industry, attract funding for cellulosic ethanol and help commercialize other advanced biofuel technologies, such as algae and biobutanol. “This conversation ought to include whether and how we address tax policy for all fuels, including petroleum,” Dinneen says. “The ethanol industry, and the domestic biofuel industry as a whole, ought not be asked to unilaterally disarm while extensive government support continues for petroleum companies.”
…With the House shakeup, Rep. Nancy Pelosi will become minority leader and Rep. John Boehner will become Speaker of the House. In terms of support for ethanol, neither Dinneen nor Buis feel it will be much of a change. Boehner hails from Ohio and has been supportive of renewable fuels in the past. Rep. Collin Peterson will become the ranking minority member on the House Agriculture Committee and Rep. Frank Lucas will step into his shoes as ranking majority member. Lucas is from Oklahoma and has a degree in agricultural economics. “I don’t think you’ll see a lot of difference between him and Collin Peterson,” Buis says.
…Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan will become the next chairperson of the Senate Agriculture Committee, … a long-time supporter of biofuels. READ MORE
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